Spreader for cement and the like



Feb. 25, 1958 L, wlLLl Ms 2,824,330

SPREADER FOR CEMENT AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 2, 1956 v 1,11,. VIIIIII III IIIIII I INVENTOIZ:

74 76 L5TR WILLIAMS,

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SPREADER FOR'CEMENT AND THE LIKE Lester Williams, Aifton, Mo., assignor to Consumers Glue Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of-Missouri Application November 2, 1956, Serial No. 620,146

7 Claims. (Cl. -236) The present invention relates to hand tools, and more particularly to a hand tool for use in the application of I tiles to surfaces in dwellings, the application of formica and like coverings to counter and table tops, the application of veneering, and similar operations.

Specifically, the presentinvention relates to a noveland I improved spreader assembly that is adapted to facilitate andexpedite the application to a surface of the requisite amount or coating of an adhesive'substance appropriate for the particular installation contemplated.

In the laying of floor tiles for example, particularly I when-the work is being done by the home craftsman, one

of the most difiicult and frequently encountered problems comprises the proper application of the adhesive substance to the door prior to positioning the'tiles. Similarly, during the process of covering a wall with tiles, the principal problem confronting'the artisan is the proper application of the adhesive substance. The'application of wall board presents a corresponding problem, as does is to provide a novel and improved spreader assembly designed .to overcome the problems under consideration.

To this end the invention provides a handle member, a quadrilateral blade, and means for selectively -changing the position of the blade relatively to said handle in accordance with the type of adhesive substance being employed in various installations.

Each of the four side edges ofthe blade is provided with serrations that extend throughout "its length. The patterns of the serrations along the blade edges ar'e' different, and are designed .to insure the application of appropriate amounts of adhesive substance for particular installations, as will appear. The handlemember'is provided with an end to end rabbet or groove adapted Ito snugly receive therein any one of the 'four sides of the blade. The serrations along the edge of that"side would be disposed contiguously to the bottom 'of .said groove, and the serrations along the opposite side edge would thus be operatively *disp'osed. Intermediate the margins th'ereofieach of the'four sides has formed therein a circular aperture, the respective sides "being visibly identified by numerals impressed into the blade Lbo'dy adjacent each aperture. A conical .opening that .termina'tes in a threaded portion is provided .in the 'handle one of said ircular apertures in the blade when any Side 2,824,33 Patented :Feb. .25, 1958 ice serves to clamp the blade in the selected'positi-on, as will be more'clearly explained.

The serration patterns or formation along the edges of the four blade sides are each designed for different, but appropriate adhesive spreading operations.

Thus, the serration formation provided on that side of the bla'de visibly identified by numeral 1 is designed to control the proper spreading of plastic wall tile cement and roofing cement.

The serration formation provided on that side of the blade visibly identified by numeral 2 'is designed 'to control the proper spreading of vinyl tile cement, and asphalt tile and contact cement.

The serration formation provided on that side of the blade visibly identified by numeral 3 is designed to control the proper spreading of metal wall tile cement,

ceramic tile "cement and wood block cement.

The serration formation provided on that side of the blade 'visibly identified "by numeral 4 is designed to control the proper spreading of linoleum paste, cork tile cement, plastic Jfioor tile cement, and wallboard mastic.

Directional instructions relatively to the proper blade f disposition for an of "the specific spreading operations are visibly exhibited on "one of the faces of the handle member.

, her.

Preferably, these instructions are in printed form and appear on a label adhesively secured tossaid handle mem- It is to be understood however, that suchinstruc- "tions may be otherwise supplied.

In view .of the foregoing, it is a further object -of the present invention to provide a novel all-.purpose adhesive substance spreading assembly that is adapted in response to proper blade disposal in accordance with the instructions, to facilitate operations andisimultaneously to mini- .mize defective installations.

/ specification.

The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated on a sheet of drawings that accompanies this A more comprehensive understanding of the invention and its features and advantages "maybe had from the detailed description that follows vwithzreference -.to .said vdrawings, wherein:

. adhesive spreading assembly embodying .the concepts of the present invention;

/ .the four sides of the blade member included in the present invention.

In Figures 1 through 3, the spreader assembly is designated in its entirety by the numeral 10. It com- "member, said opening being adapted to register withxany prises only three elements: a'handle member "designated generally by the numeral 12; a blade member similarly designated by the numeral 14; and a clamping 'member generally designated by the numeral "16. q

The handle member 12 is preferably wooden, but it is to be understood that it may be formed of metallic-or plastic material if desired. The preferable contour thereof .is illustrated in the drawings, where his seen to comprise a body "18 having an end to-end rabbet=or groove 20 formed therein. In the interestof clarity with respect to the description below, the bottom 'defining surface of said groove is designated 22.

What will be termed the front face I of, the handle incinis provided in said handle member as illustrated in Fig:

ures l and 2.

The blade member 14 is preferably fashioned of steel, and includes integrally four side sections designated 34, 36, 38 and 40 respectively. A generally rectangular reinforcing panel portion 42 is offset rearwardly from the I plane of said blade, as best seen in Figure 2.

As hereinbefore noted, each side section of the blade is provided intermediate the outer margins thereof with a circular aperture. In the interest of clarity, the circular aperture in the blade side section 34 is designated 44; the circular aperture in section 36 is designated 46; the circular aperture in section 38 is designated 48; and that provided in section 40 is designated 50.

As also hereinbefore noted, the serration formation on each of the four blade side edges is designed to spread the proper quantity of adhesive substance appropriate for any installation specified in the instructions for that particular side of the blade, as should be understood. Numeral 52 indicates a label of such instructions, illustrated in dot and dash lines, that may be adhesively or otherwise secured to the front face 24 of the handle member.

A comparison of the four serration formations is presented on an enlarged scale in Figures ,4 through 7. In these views, an exemplary surface whereon the adhesive material would be spread is indicated by the reference character S. The surface S could be a wooden floor, a concrete floor, a plaster wall, a composition wall, and so on, as isunderstood.

The serration formation on the side 34 comprises a continuous series of teeth 54 separated by angular indentations 56. All of the teeth 54 have corresponding surfacecontact edges 58, and the indentations 56 are of a size determined to spread the proper quantity of adhesive material in the course of effecting any installations listed in the directives aforesaid relatively to the blade sideidentified by the impressed numeral 1.

The serration formation on the side 36comprises a continuous series of teeth 60 separated by comparatively small arcuate indentations 62. All of the teeth 60 have corresponding surface-contact edges 64, and the indenta tions 62 are of a size determined to spread the 'proper quantity of adhesive material in the course of effecting any installation listed in the directives aforesaid relatively to the side identified by the impressed numeral 2.

The serration formation on the side 38 comprises a continuous series of teeth 66 separated by V-shaped indentations 68. All of the teeth 66 have corresponding surface-contact edges 70, and the indentations 68 are of a size determined to spread the proper quantity of adhesive material in the course of effecting any of the installations listed in the directives aforesaid relatively to the side identified by the impressed numeral .3.

The serration formation on the side 40 comprises a continuous series of teeth 72 separated by comparatively large semi-circular indentations 74. All of the teeth 72 have corresponding surface-contact edges 76, and the indentations 74 are of a size determined to spread the proper 'quantity of adhesive material in the course of effecting any of the installations listed in the directives aforesaid relatively to the side identified by the impressed numeral 4.

The clamping member 16 comprises a screw including a head 78 and a threaded shank 80. As shown in Figure 2, the head 78 is tapered correspondingly to the conical opening 33, and the shank 80 is adapted to engage the":

threaded portion 35 of said opening.

assess) 4 Although the manner wherein the invention may be employed is deemed to be manifest from the foregoing description and the drawings, a brief explanation will be given. Prior to that explanation however, attention is directed to certain features not stressed hereinabove.

Thus with respect to the handle member 12, it should be noted that the arcuate contours of the upper and lower marginal portions thereof are designed to minimize palm and thumb irritation of the users hand. The depressed or offset panel 42 not only serves to add rigidity to the blade, but also serves as a' finger rest to facilitate handling of the spreader in use. The groove 20 that is coextensive with said handle member is sized to snugly embrace any selected one of the four blade side sections 34-40. The rounded edges 32 of said groove are provided to facilitate entrance thereinto of the blade side sections. It is further to be noted that the diameters of the four circular apertures in the blade sides are considerably larger than the diameter of the screw shank 80, so that absolute centering of said blade is not required.

Use

Assuming for example, that it were desired to lay linoleum or plastic floor tile, the blade 14 would be mounted in the handle member 12 as illustrated in Figures 1 through 3. That is to say, the blade side 4 would be disposed at the bottom of the assembly in accordance with the directives.

Assuming now for example, that it were desired to cover a surface with ceramic tile, the directives indicate that the blade side 3 should be disposed at the bottom, wherefore the following steps would be taken to place the device 10 in proper condition. First, the clamping screw 16 would be withdrawn from the handle member 12, whereupon theblade would be extracted from the groove '20. Next, the blade would be repositioned with the side entering groove 20, and pushed thereinto until the teeth 54 contacted the groove bottom 22. Thereupon the screw 16 would be passed through the circular aperture 44 via the conical opening 33 and into engagement with the, threaded portion 35 of the last named opening. Tightening of the screw would now complete the operation, resulting in clamping the blade in the handle member with the teeth 66 at the bottom.

It is believed manifest therefore, that any one of the four sides of the blade 14 may be disposed at the bottom in like manner.

From the foregoing description augmented by an in- -spection of the drawings, it should be evident that the present invention provides a novel hand tool of simple construction, that constitutes an all-purpose spreader for cement and the like employed in surface covering operations of the type under consideration.

I What I claim is: 1. A device of the character described, comprising in combination: a handle member; a quadrilateral blade; a

determined serration formation along the edge of each side section of the blade; and means for releasably securing a selected side section of said blade in the handle member, said means comprising: an end to end groove in said handle member for receiving therein one side section of the blade; a circular aperture provided in each side section intermediate the margins thereof; a conical opening includinga threaded portion provided in said handle member and adapted to register with any selected one of said circular apertures; and a clamping screw adapted to pass through the selected circular aperture via said conical opening and into engagement with the threaded portion thereof, said'screw having a head tapered correspondingly and with and adapted to seat in said conical opening.

2. A device according to claim 1, and a label of instructions adhesively or otherwise secured to one face of the handlemember to guide the user in properly positiom'ng the blade for selected perations.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the blade member is provided with a generally rectangular reinforcing panel portion ofiset rearwardly from the plane of said blade member.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein each side section is identifiable by a permanent numerical marking visibly exhibited thereon.

5. In a spreader assembly for cement and the like of the type described: a handle member; a quadrilateral blade member having four side sections; a serration formation along the edge of each side section of the blade member, each serration formation being designed for specific cement-spreading operations; and means for releasably clamping one side section of said blade in the handle member whereby to dispose the serration formation of the opposite side section in operative status, said means comprising: an end to end groove in the handle member for receiving therein one side section of the blade; a circular aperture provided in each side section intermediate the margins thereof; a conical opening including a threaded portion provided in said handle member and adapted to register with any selected one of said circular apertures; and a clamping screw adapted to pass through the selected circular aperture via said conical opening and into engagement with the threaded portion thereof, said screw having a head tapered correspondingly with and adapted to seat in said conical openmg.

6. In a spreader assembly for cement and the like of the type described, the construction set forth in claim 5, and means visibly indicating to the user the appropriate serration formation to be placed in operative status for a particular operation.

7. A spreader assembly for adhesive substances of the character described, comprising in combination: a handle member; a quadrilateral blade member including four side sections; a circular aperture formed in each side section intermediate the ends thereof; four determined serration formations each constituting the outer margin of one of said side sections, including a first formation comprising a continuous series of teeth separated by angular indentations, a second formation comprising a continuous series of teeth separated by comparatively small arcuate indentations, a third formation comprising a continuous series of teeth separated by V-shaped indentations, and a fourth formation comprising a continuous series of teeth separated by comparatively large semicircular indentations, all of the teeth in each formation having corresponding surface-contact edges; an end to end groove formed in the body of the handle member for the reception of any one of said side sections of the blade member; a conical opening terminating in a threaded portion provided in the handle member intermediate the ends thereof; and a clamping screw having a tapered head portion and a threaded shank portion, said screw being adapted, with one side section of the blade member disposed in said groove, to pass through the circular aperture of said side section via said conical opening and into engagement with the threaded portion of said opening whereby to releasably secure the blade member to the handle member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 421,995 Von Reibnitz Feb. 25, 1890 670,120 Van Tuyl Mar. 19, 1901 1,195,297 Vlchek Aug. 22. 1916 2,287,231 Cathcard June 23, 1942 2,425,215 West Aug. 5, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,051,074 France Sept. 9, 1953 

